Brickmaking machine



Dec. 4 1923. 1,476,496

R. P. M. DAVIS BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filedv April 18 1922 5 Sheets-.Sheet 1 um www@ Q.

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Dec. 4 1923.

rR. P. M. DAVIS BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filed April 18. 1922 5 sheets-sheet 2 R. P. M. DAVIS BRICKMAKING MACHINE Dec. 4",.v'1923. I 1,476,496

Filed April 18 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 De'c. 4 1923.

R. P. M. DAvls BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filed April 18. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I IlIIIIIIIlII.

.m ug) R. P. M. DAVIS BRICKMAKING MACHINE Filed Apil 18 1922 I 5. Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 4 1923.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

UNITED STATES gPA'riszrVr o*F'FicE.

ROY RM; Davis, or'MoUNT UNION, PENnsYLvANIa;

BRIOKMAKING MACINE.

Appucation med April 1s, 1922 sei-iai No. 554,561.

To all whom t may 'concern Be it known that ROY P. M. Davis, a citizen of the United `States of America, residing at Mount Union, in the county of Huntingdon and State of Pennsylvania, has invented Vcertain new and useful Improvements in Brickmaking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in L9 molds for makingbricks.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic or semiautomatic mold or machine which is capable of making-bricks of various sizes and shapes heretofore made by 13 hand.

Another object of my invention' is to provide mechanical means for simultaneously moving the sides of the mold toward each other to formv the mold, and, or in a reverse 2O direction to release the molded brick.

Still further object is to provide means for swinging they mold and mold frame on a horizontalr axis to inverted position to facilitate removal of the brick.

Still another Objectis to providevmeans for adjust-ing the sides and bottom members of the mold to permit of different sizes of bricks `being readily made;

Other and 'further objects-and advantages of the invention willibe4 in part explained and in part obvious as the sp'ecication is set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view partly in sec tion;

Figure is a bottom plan view; y Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure is a section on the line 7-7 of Referring more particularly to'thedcflrawr Y on the -screws 111 ings wherein like reference' characters 'in- A dicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 denotes a rectangular frame preferably formed of heavy boards 2 whichv constitute the sides of the frame', it'being understood that no top or bottom boards are provided. This frame is normal'lysupported by or rests upon a table or other suitable support 3, and it is lpivotally con! nected lat one end to ajshaft 4 by means of" apertured arms 5 secured toand projecting from the-lower edgeof one ofthe side boards 2. The shaft '4 is mounted in posts 6,01",Y

other suitable supports. The purpose of this pivotal connection is to permit of the frame 1 being swung from its Figure' 2 position in which it rests upon the table' 3, to an inverted or Figure 3 position" to r'ac'ilitate depositing the completed brick (not shown) .upon a vertically adjustable receiving table 7. 'y t The abutting ends of the boards 2 com-A prising the frame 1 are secured together by means ot internal corner fasteners or brackets 8 and `external brackets 14, one pair for each corner of the frame. Thesebracl'zets 8 and 14 also serve as avmeans for adjustably supporting within the frame'l a' spider 9, the arms 10 ofwhich are'apertured to loosely receive the screws 11,` in'turn mounted tor turning movement inthe corner brackets. These screws 11 are locked against upward vertical movement in or withdrawal from tlie'brackets 8 Land 14 by means 'oiilockv nuts 12 whichl'bear against thebottomi ofr Y the screws v11 rest upon and are supported the brackets 14. The' recessed heads 13 of by the top of the brackets Y14;l it being vnoted that-the outer orA external'brackets 141V embrace the corners of the'framel' and overlap' Lthe top and` bottom of the innerbraCkets-S.

The arms 10 of the spider '9 'are vformed withv recesses 15 in' their under facesto receivethe` lifting nuts 16threadedlymounted These nuts 16' are formed with onestraight side asat17 adapted` to abut-the end wallet1 the recessesl and inl consequence are prevented'irom making aY complete rotationI on thel screwsl Consequently-wheii bolts 11 yare turned asby means of'a` socket wrench (not shown) inserted'in the'recessed heads 18 oithe bolts, the lifting nuts will'neither .rid'e upA oi* down upon" the bolts v11 according to' the direction` whichA the latter are turned@ Theii spider being loosely mounted" upon the l"screws @111;

-will be lifted by the nuts 16 as the latter move upwardly on the screws or it will drop by gravity when the nuts 16 are moved downwardly upon the screws 11. Lock nuts 17 and lock washers 1S serve to lockithe spider in anyk desired adjusted position.

The function of the spider 9 is to support the bottom mold member or liner1 plate 69 of the mold, and as will presently be described to adjustably support the spider with relation to the rods or supports 19 and 19. von which the side liners or mold plates 64 and 64 are mounted, and the rods or supports 20 and 20 on which the end liners or mold plates 100 and 100 are mounted.

.Located on the outside of the main frame 1 and mounted for vertical movement relatively to frame 1 is a second rectangular frame 23, comprising tour side plates 24 connected together by the four corner brackets 25. This whole outer frame is suspended from headed bolts 2 6 mounted in apertured ears 27 radiating from the four corners of the trame 1. The lower ends or" the bolts 26 pass through the angle braces 28 with which each corner bracket is provided. Locli nuts 29 on the bolts 26 are screwed against the braces 28 to loclc the movable frame against movement relative to the ixed :trame after the movable iframe has been adjusted, as will be described hereinafter.

The plates24 of the outer movable trame each have a plate 30 bolted thereto, spacing blocks 81 being employed to space the plates 24 and 30 apart. These plates 30 constitute tracks upon which reciprocating iframes or carriages 31 (four in number) travel to anl fro as will presently be noted. The carriages 31 comprise inner and outer side plates 32 connected together by means of top and bottom rectangular frames 33 and 34 whichare respectively bolted to the top and bottom edges of the plates 32. The rectangular trames 33 and 34 overlie the plates 32 and are provided with strips 35 and 36 which engage'respectively-over and behind the tcp and bottom edges of the plates 30 thus supporting the carriages for sliding movement.

Journaled insuitable bearings in the corner brackets25 are short shafts 37 fixed to the upper ends of which are sprocket .wheels 38 provided with square recesses 39 for the reception oi a socket wrench (not-shown). A; sprocket chain 40 passes around these wheels and is connected at its opposite ends to adjustable screw eyes 41 in turn secured to opposite ends of one of the carriages 31.

Adjustment of the screw eyes 41 regulates the tension of the chain. rllhe other three carriages areisecured "to the chain by means of clamps 42V having out turned ends 43 which ends'are adapted rto pass through links of the chain and bear against the inner'side of plates .44 attached tothe lower and inner 'means of headed bolts 45 the shanlzs of which pass throughi narrow longitudinally disposed slots 46 formed in the plates 44.v

This form' of connection permits of the carriages being properly positioned before the bolts are tightened as is most essential in order that the movement of the kcarriages may be accurately timed. Y

'llhe carriages 31 are supported at their cuter edges by clips 47k and 4S`secured on the outer ends of spaced aligned bolts 49 and 50 which pass through the carriages and thence through inner and outer plates 51 and 52 covering the large openings or slots 53 formed in the sides et the fixed `inner frame 1, it being understood that the bolts 49 and 50 pass through the outer I`tra-me 23, thence through the slots 53 thereby clamp ing the plates 51a-nd 52 tothe trame 1. Lock nuts 54 and 55 and lock nuts 54 and 55 lock the bolts `49 and 50 to the respective frames. To move the outer frames and consequentlythe 'carriages'31 vertically with respect to the inner frame 1, it is merely necessary to loosen the lock nuts 54 and 55 whereupon the plates 51 and ,52 till be re` lieved from clamping engagement with the `trame 1 and the entire rame'23 'may be lifted bodily on the bolts 26. The lock nuts 54 and 55 will then be tightened and the lock nuts 29 on the ends of the bolts 26 will be screwed up against the bottom et the braces 23. As thecarriages 31 are fixed to the outer 'frame 23' against relative vertical movement, vertical adjustment of the 'one results in a corresponding'adjustment lot the other with respect to the fixed inner trame 1. Downward adjustment ot' the frame 23 can of course, be eiiected in a. siniilar manner to that just described, that is when the lock nuts .i4 and 55 andthe loclez nuts 29 are loosened the outer iframe will drop by its own weight to any predetermined lowered position. Such adjustment also affects the rods 19 19 and 20-20, these rods being slidably supported by, and tor in'and outmovement with respect to the carriages 31, as will be presently described. Y

The top trames 33 of the carriages have fixed to the bottom iace thereof diagonally disposed bars 56 at one extremity with ott'set portions 58-58 and 59 59 extending parallel with `V the vframes and 23. These rods 56-56 and 'I 57-57 slidably engage in-slots 60land 61 termed in the upper tace oi' the blocks 102 inv turn secured to the push reds 19-19 and 20-20 byy meansA of set screws 91. lt `will be noted that the slots 60 are transversely disposed and that the slots 61 are angularly disposed wi lh respect to and bisect .the slots 60. The Voffset portions. of .thebars 56-56"l 56 and .5T-5T formed loi) lill

extend in the same plane as that of theY transverse slots 60 andthe diagonally dis'- posed portion of these bars 56-56 extend in the same plane as that of the angularly disposed slots 6l. Consequently when the carriages 31 are moved from one corner to the-other` of the outer frame 23 the barsv 56-56 and 57-57 will engage first in'one of the slots 60 and 61 and then in the other an-d the pushv rodswillbeV forced towardsthe interior center of the fra-me 1 or withr-v drawn therefrom as the case may be according to the direction of travel ofthe carriages 3L It may here be noted, that the push rods 19-1'9 and 20-20 extend.

through the carriages 31, through the frame 23 and thence through the plates 51 and 52 (and of course through the large opening or slot 53) into the interior of the frame 1. This-movement of the carriages iseffected by turning the shafts 37 by means of a socket wrench v(not shown) or any other which are secured the end liner on moldv plates U-100. Secured to the top face of the spider 9 is a plate 68 to which is boltedv the bottom liner plate6'9, such liner plates when in Figure 2 position constituting the mold in which the brick is made. It will be understood that the liner plates may be of various configurations, Ysuch as the tongue and groove construction shown according to the p articular type or shape of brick which it is desired to make.

By reason of the fact that the sideliner plates are of greater length than the end liner plates and the former have a greater distance to travel than the latter, some means must be provided for causing the push rods'19-19to move outwardly toward Figure l position, slightly in advance of the corresponding movement on the part of the push rods -207, or at greater speed. It is desirable if not absolutely essential that the limit of inward movement of both pairs of push rods be reached simultaneously, consequently if the initial out-ward movement of the push rods 20-20 is delayed lbeyond that of the 'initial outward movement of the push rods 19-19 and the latter have a greater distance to travel it follows that in order to accomplish the desideratum previously mentioned the movement of the push rods 19-19 must exceed in speed the corresponding movement of the push rods 20-n20. This delayed outward movement of the rods .20-20 is Veffected byl my making the offset portions of the bars 572-57 short-erA than the corresponding. p0rtions of thebars 56-56 whereby the-car# riages 31 will have a slight movemel'itl before the angular Aportion of the bars 56;-56.

engage the bloek's'lOQ; The acceleration iny speed 'during both inward and outward movement ofl thev push rods' 19-19 is obtained by making the bars 574-57 shorterv and of 'great angularity than the bars 56-56 thus Vincreasing the throw of the former bars. When the blocks 102 are in.V Figure- 2 position, it will be noted that theyy engage behind the blocks bolted to the under faces of the top frames BB-of the carriages 31 thereby relieving the bars 56'-56 and 557-57 of/'strain K y i From the Aforegoing it is believed that the operation of my inventionv will b'ereadily understood but the same may be briefly described as-follo-ws': Assuming thatl the side and end liner cured to the pushrods 19e-19 and 20-#20 respectively and have been set to make-the proper sized'briek, the blocks 62 are locked so 'Y tothe push rods by the set screws 91. The A bottom linerpllate) of the molds ist-hen bolted in proper position onthe plate 68 carried by the spiderV 9"and the spider raised to the desired vertical position by manual actuation of the headed control screws 11, it being understood that any suitable power eontrolmeans (not shown) for actuating the screws 11 either individual-ly or in unison maybe employed for this purpose. After the spider has'been locked the mold is ready for the operation of making brick.l

A charge of mud is now depositedby gravity into the open top of the mold in any suitable and well known manner (not shown). After the mold has beenfilled the top of the brick is smoothed off by meansl of-a rotary slicker (not'shown). and a pallet (not shown) is clamped over the top ofthe mold by suitzrble fasteners (also not shown). The entire inner and outer 'frames 1 and. 23 are then swung to invert-ed "or Figure" position on the shaftl-v as pivot, until the rest upon the vertically movable said frames table 7 i s The operator now rotates one of the short shafts 37 in the appropriate direction which causes the carriages 31 tomove in unison llO across the sides of the framef23, thereby withdrawing the push rods and the liner plates carriedv thereby outwardly towards the sides of the frame 1. The side and end liner plates are thus complet-ely with-- drawn from Contact with the brick and consequently no matter what the VVconfiguration of brickmay be, when the fasteners of the pallet are unlocked from the framerl, the

brick will be deposited uri-injured together l with the pallet upon the table 7. The Ylatter is then lowered and the brick removed. It Y will be'understood that any suitable power means (not sho-wn) may be employed tor rotating the slaafts.v l After lthe brick has been removedV the framesl and 23 are swung back te Figure l position 'and the operation repeated. Having thus described my' invention, VvWhat l claim is: K Y' I l.V A Vmold for making brick comprising a trame, means in said trame tor'supporting the bottom liner plate `ofthe mold, means for vertically adjusting said aforementioned means, means for supportng 'the side andV end liner platesof the mold, and means torr causing said side and end liner plates to move inwardly towards or outwardly away from each other, and said trame being movable to inverted position. y. Y n

2. Aniold for making brick comprising a frame, a vertically adjustable support in the frame tor the bottom liner vplate of the mold, slidable'members extending through the sides ot said trame, said members adapted to carry the side and end liner plates of the mold7 supports on the outside ot said frame, carriages on said supports for actu- 'ating said slidable members, and means for actuating said carriages. f

3. A `mold tor makin@` brick com risinO' a frame, a vertically adjustable support in said trame for the bottom liner plate of the mold, supports tor the side and end liner plates of the mold extending radially throughsaid trame, means for adjusting Vsaid last Vmentioned supports in a vertical direction with'respect to said trame, and means for adjusting said supports in a radial direction.

4;. A mold for making brick comprising a trame, a vertically adjustable support in said frame :tor the bottom liner plate of the mold, supports for the side and end linerV and said frame being movable to an inverted position.

5. A mold for maklng brick comprising an inner trame7 a support in said inner trame tor the bottom liner plate or' the mold, means tor adjusting said support in a vertical direction, an vouter :trame supported by and vertically. adjustable with respect to said inner trame, rods supported by said outer trame, and extending .inwardlythrougli said inner frame, said rods having means on theirr inner-ends for carrying the side andgend-liner plates 'ot the mold, carriages movable Von, said outer frame tor actuating said rods, and means jfor actuating said carriages.

6.V A-mold for making brick'comprising af trame, a support in said trame for the bot# tom liner plate of the mold rods slidable 7. A mold for making brick comprising aV frame, a. support in said frame tor the bottom liner plate of the mold, rods extending slidably through the sides of said frame, means on the inner ends of said rods for carrying the side and end liner plates of the mold, and means ltor actuating certain of said slidable rods at greater speed than others ot said rods.

8. A mold for making brick comprising av trame, means in said trame for supporting the bottom liner plate of the mold, means tor vertically adjusting said aforementioned means7 means for supporting the side and end liner plates ofthe mold, means for causing said side and end liner plates to move inwardly towards or outwardly away `from each other, and means for controlling the distance and direction of-movement'ot said side end and bottom liner plates.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ROY P. M. DAVIS. 

